Player-pneumatic.



C. H. SPENCER.

PLAYER PNEUMATIC.

APPLlcATioN F1151) M11-2L 1915.

@New w13 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SPENCER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PLAYER-PNEUMATIC.

To all wko/m. 'it may concern Be it lrnown that I, CHARLES H. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovemcnts in Player-Pneumatics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing pneumatics.

One object is to provide a relatively long, narrow, thin playing pneumatic, whereby the space in the piano casing may be minimized with the result that comparatively little space in the piano casing is required for the playing pneumatics.

Another object is to provide a relatively long, narrow thin bellows embodying among other characteristics a straight fiat member, a member hingedly connected to the aforesaid member and a fold connecting said members, a chamber located between the inner faces of said members, the chamber having a port leading into the bellows, the bellows having an inlet port and an exhaust port, and a valve operable to control said ports.

Another object resides inthe provision of a playing pneumatic embodying, among other characteristics, extreme sensitiveness and positive operation of the few parts constituting the pneumatic.

lith the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed ont in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings :--Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved pneuniatics illustrating adjacent parts in transverse section and in elevation. F ig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. Je is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper portion of one of the playing pneumatics. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one form of connecting means between the fixed and movable members of my improved playing pneumatic. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspec- Specifcaton of Letters Patent.

bar (not shown).

Patent-.ed July 25, 1916.

Application filed January 27, 1915. Serial No. 4,680.

tive view of the valve operating arm of each playing pneumatic.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, each pneumatic includes an upper fixed member 10 and a movable member 11, which are connected by afold 12. The movable member is provided with an extension 13 to contact with and actuate a wippen (not shown).

An elbow 11 is fitted tightly in an exhaust aperture 15 formed in the upper fixed member 10 of each pneumatic. This elbow is coupled to the corresponding one of a plurality of nipples 1G projecting from the front face of the wind chest 17 by means of a suitable coupling 18, whereby communication is established between each pneumatic and the wind chest.

The underside of each fixed member 10 is provided with a longitudinal cavity 19 located in advance of the exhaust 15 and leading through said fixed member into said cavity is a small aperture 20. A nipple 21 is fixed in the small aperture 20, to which is connected a tube 22- which leads to a tracker' A chambered partition 23 is glued or otherwise secured tothe underside of each fixed member 10 and arranged in longitudinal alinement with the aforesaid longitudinal cavity 19, forming a relatively long narrow chamber' 2e in the playing pneumatic. This secondary chamber 24 has communication with the wind chest 17 by way of the respective elbow 111-. and the coupling connections between the latter and the wind chest, and it also has a port 25 to establish communication between it and the interior 26 of the respective pneumatic.

A U-haped member B including sides 26 and a connecting web 27 embraces the fixedA member and the chambered member at the outer end of the fixed chamber, there being a narrow spacing block 2S between the web 27 and the partition 23 to provide an air space 29, and it is to this U-shaped member B that the movable member 11 of the respective 4pneumatic is hinged, preferaby by fabric or other suitable material 80. This U- shaped member B may be secured in place by glue and, if desired., by the fold 12 or a portion of the material of which the fold is composed which may be wrapped around the pneumatic as indicated at 12 in Fig. 3. If desired, a securing element 81 may pierce the fixed member 10, the partition 23 and the spacing block 28. Furthermore, if desired, the U-shaped member B may have its sides 2G provided with indentations 32, forming lugs adapted to bite into the edges of the ixed member 10 or other parts of the pneumatic, so as to facilitate lirmly securing the member B to the respective pneumatic. A connection of other shape and form than this particularly formed member B may be employed for the performance of the same functions as are ascribed to this particular member' B. As shown, however, the member B has a port 33 formed in its web portion QT and disposed in coaxial alinement with the port 25 in the partition A valve 3i to control the ports 15, Z5 and 33 is employed. This valve is shown as of disk shape and preferably consists of two circular elements of buck skin, fabric, or other suitable material, carried one on each side of a iat spring or other yieldable arm 35, secured at one end to the underside of the partition Q3 by suitable fastening means 36. This valve 3l normally closes the port Q5 of the respective pneumatic by reason of the yieldable nature and form of the arm 35.

A diaphragm 3G is secured around the edges of the aforesaid cavity 19 of the fixed member 10 of each pneumatic. This diaphragm is preferably loose within its edges for movement toward and away from the cavity, under the influence of pressure and suction.

Secured to the diaphragm throughout a portion of its length is a valve operatingarm 37 on the underside of which, intermediate its ends and in alinement with the aforesaid small aperture 20, is a disk 3S having a bleed hole 39 leading through the bleed holes 40 and 4:0 in the diaphragm and the arm 3T, respectively. The free end of the arm 37 is provided with a stein -l arranged coaxially with the ports 25 and for the purpose of unseating the valve 3st with relation to the port 25, the normal position of the valve, and force it into cooperative relation with the lower port at predetermined times, so as to close the port and provide for a communication between the chamber 21 and the interior of each pneumatic.

My improved pneumatic may be supported in a piano casing (not shown) in any suitable manner. One way in which the pneumatic may be supported is to support the outer ends of the pneumatics in a channeled bar C consisting of upper and lower tianges a2 and i3 respectively connected by a. web portion di. The outer ends of the pneumatics are adapted to tit snugly against the web portion t4 between the iiangcs ft2 and 43 of said bar C, and yet be readily remove-d from cooperative relation therewith.

To support the inner ends of the pneu matics there is provided a strip -l arranged in parallel relation with the bar C and also with relation to the wind chest 17, and disposed relatively close to the latter and secured in such position in any suitable manner. In fact the strip l5 may be soldered along its under edge to the wind chest, as indicated at i6, and depend entirely upon the wind chest for its support. Jingle irons l1T may be supported on the upper edge of this strip 15, with one angle iron in alinement with each playing pneumatic. For instance, one leg of each angle iron may lit between the strip -l and the wind chest 17, and the other leg of cach angle iron extend laterally over the strip 153. The latter leg' of the angle iron has a perforation -i therein adapted to receive a screw threaded shank 1S of a nut if) adapted to be screwed into and through the upper tixed member 1() of the respective playing pneumatic and into a block 50, as shown in Fig. 1. This particular means of supporting and securing the playing` pne'iunatics permits free and easy adjustment of the same latera l v toward and away from one another for proper positioning with relation to the wippens or other parts of the instrunient (not shown), and also permits ready and easy removal of any one ofthe pneumatics independently one of another. By way of further explanation it may be noted that the pneumatics may be shifted laterally, by reason of their outer ends having sliding movement in the channeled bar C and the angle irons -17 being slidable along the strip It is well known in the present art that when the various apertures of the music sheet are brought into registration with the apertures in the tracker bar, that pressure or suction is created through tubes leading to the pneumatics. One of these tubes is indicated at 22, and it will be understood that each pneumatic has a tube 22 leading from it to the tracker bar (not shown). The pressure or suction created in the operation of the instrument when the music sheet perforations register with the perforations in the tracker bar causes the diaphragm 3G in this instance to expand and move away from the adjacent wall of the cavity 19, forming an air pocket. This expansion of the diaphragm causes the respective pins -11 to engage the respective valves 3l and force the latter away from the respective upper ports Q5 into tight seating relation with the respective lower ports 33. The air may then pass from the respective bellows into the respective chamber Z-land thence from said chamber through the respective exhaust port 15 and through the corresponding elbow 1a into the wind chest 17. The closing of the respective pneumatic causes its extension 13 to lift the refirs spcctive wippen and thereby actuate the piano action (not shown). Immediately upon the apertures in the music sheet passing out of registration with the respective apertures in the tracker bar, the tubes 22 become closed, and the surplus air in the respective pocket passes through the respective bleed holes 39, 40, and 40, into the chamber 2l. This allows the spring arm 35 to close the port 25 and force the stem AIl and the operating arm 37 to their upper position. The operating arm 37 is exceedingly small and light and is lifted to its place at the top of the secondary chamber before the suction in the secondary chamber becomes effective by the seating of the valve 34k at the port When portl 3:) is opened by the valve 3l air at atmospheric pressure enters the chamber 26/ and causes the latter to inflate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved playing pneumatic is simple, economical, and durable, and by virtue of my peculiar construction, I am enabled to provide a relatively long, narrow, and thin playing pneumatic.

As the claims in this case are confined to the particular construction of playing pneumatic, it is deemed entirely unnecessary to illustrate the tracker bar and the means of operation of the tracker bar, the piano action, the motive power, etc., for the reason that the piano action, motive power, etc., do not form part of the present inventio-n and may be constituted of elements now common in the art.

lhat is claimed is:

l. In a playing pneumatic for player pianos a fixed and a movable member, a fold connecting the fixed and the movable members and constituting a bellows `which is provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port, a. partition in the bellows forming a chan'ibcr which is provided with a port arranged in coaxial alinement with the aforesaid inlet port of the bellows, a valve held normally in engagement with said partition port, a diaphragm in the chamber, a valve operating arm operable under the influence of said diaphragm to unseat said valve with relation to said partition port and position the `valve in cooperative relation with the inlet port of the bellows to close the latter, the diaphragm having a bleed hole.

2. In a playing pneumatic, a bellows composed of a fixed. member, a movable member, and a fold connecting said members, the fixed member having an exhaust port and a relatively small aperture, a partition in the bellows to form a chamber therein and into which said small aperture leads, the partition having a port therein, a valve seat member connected to the fixed member and provided with a port, and to which valve seat the movable member of the bellows is connected, a valve held normally in engage ment with the port in said partition, and means in the chamber operable under the influence of pressure or suction through said small aperture of the fixed member to shift said valve from cooperative relation with the partition port into sealing relation with the port in the valve seat member, said means having a bleed hole.

3. In a playing pneumatic, a bellows composed of a fixed member, a valve seat member connected thereto and provided with a port, a movable member hingedly connected to said valve seat member, a fold connected to the fixed and movable members of the bellows, said fixed member having an exhaust port and a relatively .small aperture, the underside of the fixed member having a relatively long cavity, a channeled partition in the bellows which cooperates with said cavity to form a chamber within the bellows and into which chamber said aperture leads, said partition member having a port therein arranged in coaxial alinement with the port of the valve seat member, a valve held normally in engagement with the port of the partition member, a diaphragm located in said cavity of the fixed member, a yieldable arm secured in said cavity and provided with a stem disposed in alinement with the axes of said valve seat member port and said partition port and which is movable with the diaphragm under the infiucnce of pressure or suction entering the said chamber through said small aperture in the fixed member so as to shift said valve from the port of the partition member into sealing relation with the port of the valve seat member, the diaphragm having a bleed hole.

t. In a playing pneumatic, a bellows composed of a fixed member, a valve seat member secured to the fixed member and provided with a port, a movable member hingedly connected to said valve scat member, a fold connecting the fixed and movable members, the fixed member having a port and a relatively small aperture, a portion adjacent the fixed member forming a chamber in the bellows into which chamber said small aperture leads, a yieldable arm secured at one end to the underside of the chamber, the chamber having a port leading into the bellows, a valve secured'to said arm and normally closing the port leading from the chamber, and means located in the chamber for actuation Linder the influence of pressure or suction through said small aperture to operate said valve against the tension of said yieldable arm to force the valve from the port of the chamber and hold the valve in tight engagement with the port in said valve seat member.

5. In a playing pneumatic, a bellows comprising a fixed member, a member secured to the fixed member and provided with a port,

a movable member hingedly connected to said ported member, a channeled partition disposed longitudinally in the bellows and cooperating with the tixed member of the bellows to form al relatively long, narrow shallow chamber, the iixed member having a relatively large port leading into the bellows and also provided with an exhaust aperture leading from said chamber, said partition member having a port disposed in coaxial alinement with the port of the aforesaid ported member, a valve located normally over the port of the partition member, a diaphragm in said chamber operable for downward movement in the chamber under the influence of pressure or suction, and a relativelyT long yieldable arm disposed in the chamber, said arm having a stem and being movable under the influence of downward movement of the diaphragm to cause its stem to engage said valve and shift the latter from the port in the partition into sealing relation with the port of said ported member,said diaphragm havinga bleed hole.

(5. In a player pneumatic, a relatively long, narrow, thin bellows provided with an exhaust port and a small aperture adjacent thereto, said bellows also having an inlet port, a partition in the bellows forming a relatively long, narrow, shallow chamber in the bellows and from which said exhaust port leads and into which said aperture leads, the partition having a port in coaxial alinement with the aforesaid inlet port of the bellows, a valve normally closing the partition port, a relatively long` narrow diaphragm in the chamber normally positioned at the top thereof over the said small aperture and adapted to yield downwardly under the influence of pressure or suction through said small aperture, and a relatively long vieldable arm in the chamber provided with a stem disposed over said valve, said arm being actuated by downward movement of the diaphragm to cause said stem to force said valve from the. partition port into engagement with the inlet port of the bellows and thereby establish communication between the chamber and the bellows, said diaphragm and said arm having alining bleed holes and said yieldable arm returning the diaphragm to normal position when the diaphragm is relieved of pressure or suction, the air between the diaphragm and the up) er wall of the chamber being forced by said yieldable arm through said bleed holes into said chamber.

7. In a striker' play a' pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a relatively long, narrow, thin bellows including a` flat straight top member, a member hingedly connected to the top member, and a fold connecting said members, the bellows having` an inlet port and an exhaust port on opposite sides of the bellows, a partition secured to the top member and constructed to form with the top member a relatively long, narrow chamber located within the bellows adjacent the top member thereof and provided with a port to establish communication with the bellows, the aforesaid exhaust port leading from said chamber through said top member of the bellows, and a pneumatically operatedv valve mechanism for controlling said ports.

S. A pneumatic for player pianos including a fixed member, a movable member, a fold connecting said members and forming a bellows, said bellows having an inlet port, a partition located in the bellows adjacent the fixed member and with the latter forming a chamber' in the upper portion of the bellows, said partition having a port adjacent one end thereof to establish communication between the chamber and the bellows, the chamber having an exhaust port leadingl from the same at one end thereof opposite the end at which the partition port is located, pneumatically operated valve mechanism for controlling the said ports, and a wind chest connected with said chamber of the bellows.

9. In a. striker player pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a relatively long, narrow, thin bellows incliuling a flat straight top member, a member hingedly connected to the top member and a fold connecting said members, the bellows having an inlet port and an exhaust port, a` partition in the bellows connected to the inner face of the flat straight top member to form with the latter a relatively long, narrow chamber located within the bellows adjacent the top member thereof and provided with a port to establish communication between the chamber and the bellows, the aforesaid exhaust port leading from said chamber through said top member of the bellows, the inlet port of the bellows and the port establishing communication between the chambers and the bellows being disposed in alinement, a valve normally closing the communicating port between the chamber and bellows, and a pneumatically 'operating means to force said valve from its seat into closing relation with the inlet port of the bellows to permit the flow of fluid from the bellows into the chamber and thence through the exhaust port.

10. In a striker pla-yer pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a bellows including a. flat top member, a hinged bottom member and a fold connecting said members, a partition in the bellows constructed to form with the flat top member a chamber between the inner faces of said members and provided with a port leading into the bellows, a valve normally closing said port, the bellows having an inlet port adj aeent the aforesaid port and also having an exhaust port leading from said chamber, an arm within the chamber carrying a lateral projection disposed in alinement with the lirst named port, and a diaphragm operable to move the aforesaid arm to force the lateral projection of the arm into engagement with said valve to unseat the valve with relation to the lirst named port and hold the valve temporarily in engagement with the inlet port of the bellows.

ll. In a striker player pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a relatively long, narrow, thin bellows including a flat member and a member hingedly connected thereto and provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port, a partition within the bellows to form with the flat member a relatively long, narrow chamber confined within the bellows between the inner faces of the iat and hinged members and provided with a port communicating with the bellows, and a valve mechanism for controlling said ports.

12. In a striker player pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a relative long, narrow, thin bellows including a flat member and a member hingedly connected thereto and provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port, a partition within the bellows to form with the flat member a relatively long, narrow chamber within the bellows between the inner faces of said members and provided with a port communicating with the bellows, and a pneumatically operated valve for controlling said ports.

13. In a striker player pneumatic for player piano mechanisms, a bellows including a flat member, a member hingedly connected thereto and a fold connecting said members, the bellows having an exhaust port in said flat member, the bellows also having an inlet portthe flat member having a relatively small aperture therein, a valve mechanism within the bellows for controlling said ports, a diaphragm secured to the under side of the flat member between said exhaust port and one end of the flat member and which extends over said relatively small aperture, and means adjacent the under side of the diaphragm and actuated thereby to open said valve mechanism to permit passage of luid from the interior of the bellows through said exhaust port.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES I-I. SPENCER.

lVitnesses JOHN I-I. Sioenns, GEO. C. SrronMAnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

